26.7.16

BENIN—THE
Onojie of Opoji and Vice Chairman, Edo State Council of Traditional
Rulers and Chiefs, HRH Ehidiamen Aidonojie I, yesterday, raised alarm,
that he was being threatened by the former chairman, Board of Trustees
of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih.

The
royal father said that his lawyers were already preparing a petition to
be submitted to the Inspector General of Police and the state Police
Commissioner Chris Ezike, on the issue, adding that it was “because I
told the world that Esan Royal fathers never endorsed Ize-Iyamu.”

But
reacting, Chief Anenih, took a swipe at the Onojie of Opoji, Ehidiamen
Aidonojie I, saying that he has never killed anyone in his life time
even when he was a young person, let alone now that he is 83.

Speaking
to Vanguard on phone, Chief Anenih, said “Onojie of Opoji was one of
the traditional rulers who received our candidate and the PDP's
governorship candidate for the September election, Pastor Osagie
Ize-Iyamu. I know him very well. I never killed somebody in my life even
as a Police Constable. Is it now that I will be 83 that I will kill
somebody? I will not kill anybody in my life. I am a peaceful man. I
will not kill an ordinary man, a big man, a traditional ruler or
anybody. I will not even contemplate killing the Onojie of Opoji, why
will I do that?”

The Royal father, had alleged “He (Anenih)
called me shouting at me ‘Your Highness, I am disappointed in you.’ I
asked him what I had done, he kept shouting 'what has Oshiomhole
(governor) done' for me in my life and I told him to stop insulting me
even if he is Anenih, that I am a traditional ruler for Christ sake.

“He
said that was why he was not happy that I attended the function at the
Onojie of Uromi’s palace. He went on to say that he thought we had
settled, he said he thought we had settled our problem. But I told him
that what we agreed was that he should make an Esan man governor but he
never did it.

“Rather what he brought to Esan people now was
deputy governor and he still kept it in Uromi. And that was the same
thing we have been complaining, all the ministers have come from his
place in Uromi and in every election, he will ask Esan people to vote
PDP. I asked why did he not move the deputy governorship to another
community in Esanland, must it be Uromi?

“He said I should be
careful and he was warning me. First of all, it is an abomination to
insult a Royal father like me. I have briefed my lawyers and we are
petitioning the IG of Police. I have already informed the state
Commissioner of Police and the DSS. Why must Esan people vote PDP when
in Esan, most of us have been marginalised while Uromi remains the
Israel," he said.